The Black Ball era of segregated baseball from the 1880s to the mid-1940s involves much more than just the exploits of Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Buck O'Neil and other eventual Hall-of-Famers. It's also the time when minority neighborhoods flourished, American jazz blossomed, innovations made the National Pastime more dynamic and more accessible to fans, and leaders emerged. All of this is synthesized into one fast-moving, highly readable account that complements the distinctive paintings of internationally celebrated artist Anthony High. Thirty-two of High's unique works are presented in the equivalent of an art museum tour complete with the commentary of a guide, including High-Lights which provide High's reflections on, and background and explanations of, the images. Among countless books on the Black Ball era, this is the first to pull all of its dimensions together in art and words in this way. “A prominent Kansas City artist and a veteran author collaborate to create a colorful snapshot of Black baseball stars and the Negro National League from the 1880s through 1948 and the integration of Major League Baseball (MLB). Each chapter includes colorful reproductions of High’s artwork, highlighting pivotal moments in baseball history or individual players who shaped the face of the league and have only recently been recognized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Chapters conclude with High’s meditations on his inspiration and methodology for creating a particular work, and several illustrations portray works in progress with explanations of the art and composition of his unique collagraphs, making this as much an art book as a baseball history. Covering everyone from Moses Fleetwood Walker, the first Black major-league player in 1885, to Cuba’s Martin Dihigo, one of the greatest players who never played in MLB, Dressman and High recount the greatness of Black players and coaches in early baseball history, the innovations they created to showcase their talents, and the obstacles they had to overcome for long-overdue recognition.”― Booklist “An amazing collaboration between artist Anthony High and writer Denny Dressman; their efforts, highlighted by 44 color illustrations, producing one of the most engaging tributes to Negro League baseball ever assembled between two covers…. Even in libraries well-stocked with books on the Negro Leagues, room should be made for this most appealing volume.”― Spitball Denny Dressman retired after a 42-year career at major daily newspapers in several cities, the last 25 at the Rocky Mountain News in Denver. He currently writes an award-winning weekly sports column for The Villager newspaper in suburban Denver and has authored 16 books. Anthony High is an internationally recognized artist whose distinctive work has been inspired for more than 20 years by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum. He has been part of the NLBM traveling show "Shades of Greatness" for more than two decades. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri.